Management of suspected myocardial infarction before admission: updated audit.

Although the timing of aspirin administration is not as critical as thrombolytic treatment in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction, aspirin should be given as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms. 2 We reported a low rate (3%) of aspirin administration by general practitioners in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. We also found a low rate of intravenous opiate administration and inappropriate use of intramuscular analgesia by general practitioners before patients were admitted to hospital. Most of the media’s attention, however, focused on aspirin. We therefore repeated an audit of the rate of aspirin and opiate administration by general practitioners to patients with chest pain before their referral to this coronary care unit. We also assessed the final diagnosis of these patients and the frequency of aspirin prescription on discharge.